Christina Hoff Sommers: I don't view trigger warnings as a wholesome development--for so many reasons. I’ll mention three: First, trigger warnings have no basis in the scientific literature....Now second objection, trigger warnings are creating a hostile environment for critical thinking and free expression...Finally—I want to say this—Trigger warnings are embarrassing to women and to feminism. They convey the idea that women are helpless children --delicate little injured birds who cannot cope with clapping.

After you watch the video tell me your thoughts on the subject.

Frankly I find it stupid for all the reasons she mentions. I also do find it a reactionary movement. It's entirely regressive as much as it is embarrassing in my humble opinion.

A trigger is not something that makes you mildly uncomfortable. That's what people don't get. It's something that spirals you into panic, based on the fact that it reminds you of a bad memory of event. Triggers, actual ones, usually occur with PTSD victims, usually veterans. But we can't let the Tumblrites know that a Cis White Male Veteran possibly has PTSD because he's a Cis White Male Veteran and by their logic, he can't have PTSD. Says the bitches claiming thier parents telling them to clean their room gave them PTSD.

A trigger is not something that makes you mildly uncomfortable. That's what people don't get. It's something that spirals you into panic, based on the fact that it reminds you of a bad memory of event. Triggers, actual ones, usually occur with PTSD victims, usually veterans. But we can't let the Tumblrites know that a Cis White Male Veteran possibly has PTSD because he's a Cis White Male Veteran and by their logic, he can't have PTSD. Says the bitches claiming thier parents telling them to clean their room gave them PTSD.

A trigger is not something that makes you mildly uncomfortable. That's what people don't get. It's something that spirals you into panic, based on the fact that it reminds you of a bad memory of event. Triggers, actual ones, usually occur with PTSD victims, usually veterans. But we can't let the Tumblrites know that a Cis White Male Veteran possibly has PTSD because he's a Cis White Male Veteran and by their logic, he can't have PTSD. Says the bitches claiming thier parents telling them to clean their room gave them PTSD.

From the video:

Richard McNally, a Harvard psychologist and expert on anxiety disorders, recently published a review of the relevant research which suggests that these warnings do more harm than good. It turns out that most trauma victims are resilient, they don’t need therapy and certainly don't need trigger warnings. For the small percentage who suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, trigger warnings appear to be counter-productive. “Avoidance,” says McNally, “reinforces PTSD. Conversely, systematic exposure to triggers and the memories they provoke is the most effective means of overcoming the disorder.”

So even for legitimate cases of PTSD, trigger warnings are still counterproductive.

I agree that it's still counterproductive to use trigger warnings. I think the step to overcoming some disorders, as said there is taking them head on. Maybe starting with mild exposure at first, then gradually increasing it overtime.

I agree that it's still counterproductive to use trigger warnings. I think the step to overcoming some disorders, as said there is taking them head on. Maybe starting with mild exposure at first, then gradually increasing it overtime.

CHS is a pretty cool lady, by the by.

Pretty much. Moderate exposure is exactly what these trigger warnings are seeking to prevent.

Yeah she is. Not all feminism is bad, just takes a ton of digging through the modern brand hah.

After watching the video, I laughed at the law student mention. These people are training to go into one of the most grizzly professions, law, they are training to become lawyers, yet they can't even deal with sensitive subject matter like assault, battery, rape, etc? Law is not a safe profession and it will contain objectionable content and brutal crime. That is the very nature of law. If you're going to be defending a client, if you're going to be a lawyer, you have to be fuckin' competent, no case is going to contain a content warning for you, no one is going to censor themselves to your comfort, and if you don't do your job right, at the end of the day, it's your own fault for taking offense and letting shit bother you to such a egregious extent to the point of where it lapses you into an anxious fray.

I'm sorry, but if you're looking to become a law student, fuckin' RESEARCH what you're getting yourself into, and if you're easily offended, don't go into law!!. It's like someone saying saying they abhor gore deciding they want to attend medical school!

Whoah I had never seen a video of her before, but I have to say I really like them! Good points, good arguments, actually important things that need to be said, and she actually appears to have a set of very-good functioning brains!

I think I am going to watch some more of her videos ^_^

And yes, I agree 100% with her on these stupid trigger warnings. As she says, they are only bad for the people they try to help in the first place!

Unless, maybe, *that* part of tumblr gets a trigger warning; "Uncensored imbecile-ness ahead". That might be a good idea...

After watching the video, I laughed at the law student mention. These people are training to go into one of the most grizzly professions, law, they are training to become lawyers, yet they can't even deal with sensitive subject matter like assault, battery, rape, etc? Law is not a safe profession and it will contain objectionable content and brutal crime. That is the very nature of law. If you're going to be defending a client, if you're going to be a lawyer, you have to be fuckin' competent, no case is going to contain a content warning for you, no one is going to censor themselves to your comfort, and if you don't do your job right, at the end of the day, it's your own fault for taking offense and letting shit bother you to such a egregious extent to the point of where it lapses you into an anxious fray.

I'm sorry, but if you're looking to become a law student, fuckin' RESEARCH what you're getting yourself into, and if you're easily offended, don't go into law!!. It's like someone saying saying they abhor gore deciding they want to attend medical school!

It's worse. You probably are not going to believe this... but I got these quotes from this article: http://www.cotwa.info/2015/09/the-real-college-rape-culture-young.html . Read it! Really, read it, you will be shocked... and the source definitely looks reputable.... these are just some quotes, but really, read everything... (emphasis in the quote mine)

"At Berkeley, students protested the notion that their classmates accused of rape should be treated fairly.

*At Ohio University, angry protesters called due process for college men accused of rape "bullshit."

*At Penn, angry law students objected to the idea that 16 of their law professors would call for fair procedures in sexual assault cases.

*At a panel discussion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, students expressed horror over the idea of "innocent until proven guilty" and due process when it comes to men accused of sexual assault.

Trigger warnings encourage coddling and rewards people with entitlement issues.

The actual need for such warnings is grossly overstated. If a war veteran who actually has PTSD doesn't need trigger warnings, an angsty teen with a self-diagnosed condition doesn't need trigger warnings.

It infuriates me when I see people talking about how open minded they are, yet they essentially want to make excuses that inconvenience others just because they "feel offended" by certain words and topics. Guess what. The world is full of things that can make you uncomfortable. There are very real controversial issues that you need to be aware of. It's called getting out of your comfort zone and being a sensible and responsible member of society.

Protip: To deal with an issue, you need to be able to talk about it and face it. You can't just avoid it and expect the world around you to cater to your little needs. The world isn't such a soft and accommodating place and you have to deal with that, for better or for worse. If you can't deal with looking at some letters on a page, you need professional help, not trigger warnings.

After watching the video, I laughed at the law student mention. These people are training to go into one of the most grizzly professions, law, they are training to become lawyers, yet they can't even deal with sensitive subject matter like assault, battery, rape, etc? Law is not a safe profession and it will contain objectionable content and brutal crime. That is the very nature of law. If you're going to be defending a client, if you're going to be a lawyer, you have to be fuckin' competent, no case is going to contain a content warning for you, no one is going to censor themselves to your comfort, and if you don't do your job right, at the end of the day, it's your own fault for taking offense and letting shit bother you to such a egregious extent to the point of where it lapses you into an anxious fray.

I'm sorry, but if you're looking to become a law student, fuckin' RESEARCH what you're getting yourself into, and if you're easily offended, don't go into law!!. It's like someone saying saying they abhor gore deciding they want to attend medical school!

It's worse. You probably are not going to believe this... but I got these quotes from this article: http://www.cotwa.info/2015/09/the-real-college-rape-culture-young.html . Read it! Really, read it, you will be shocked... and the source definitely looks reputable.... these are just some quotes, but really, read everything... (emphasis in the quote mine)

"At Berkeley, students protested the notion that their classmates accused of rape should be treated fairly.

*At Ohio University, angry protesters called due process for college men accused of rape "bullshit."

*At Penn, angry law students objected to the idea that 16 of their law professors would call for fair procedures in sexual assault cases.

*At a panel discussion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, students expressed horror over the idea of "innocent until proven guilty" and due process when it comes to men accused of sexual assault.

Some "law students" have very interesting opinions on this matter!

Due process is a foundation of law.....

It's what allows you to have a chance in court. Without due process, you might as well start forming lynch mobs and doling out street justice to people accused of witchcraft and sorcery. I don't understand how anyone who studies law can be that backward when it comes to understanding this.

After watching the video, I laughed at the law student mention. These people are training to go into one of the most grizzly professions, law, they are training to become lawyers, yet they can't even deal with sensitive subject matter like assault, battery, rape, etc? Law is not a safe profession and it will contain objectionable content and brutal crime. That is the very nature of law. If you're going to be defending a client, if you're going to be a lawyer, you have to be fuckin' competent, no case is going to contain a content warning for you, no one is going to censor themselves to your comfort, and if you don't do your job right, at the end of the day, it's your own fault for taking offense and letting shit bother you to such a egregious extent to the point of where it lapses you into an anxious fray.

I'm sorry, but if you're looking to become a law student, fuckin' RESEARCH what you're getting yourself into, and if you're easily offended, don't go into law!!. It's like someone saying saying they abhor gore deciding they want to attend medical school!

It's completely out of control. It's used as a method of censorship rather than the pursuit of some sort of 'do good'.

Whoah I had never seen a video of her before, but I have to say I really like them! Good points, good arguments, actually important things that need to be said, and she actually appears to have a set of very-good functioning brains!

I think I am going to watch some more of her videos ^_^

Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide

And yes, I agree 100% with her on these stupid trigger warnings. As she says, they are only bad for the people they try to help in the first place!

Unless, maybe, *that* part of tumblr gets a trigger warning; "Uncensored imbecile-ness ahead". That might be a good idea...

Awesome! She's got really great content.

I think people are too often exposed to the bad side of feminism. If I can introduce people to this side of feminism, perhaps more men and women can see a better methodology to feminism and even become a little more accepting of different forms of feminism. Feminism really needs improvement and revaluation and I think that is something she attempts to provide for many young feminists as well.

After watching the video, I laughed at the law student mention. These people are training to go into one of the most grizzly professions, law, they are training to become lawyers, yet they can't even deal with sensitive subject matter like assault, battery, rape, etc? Law is not a safe profession and it will contain objectionable content and brutal crime. That is the very nature of law. If you're going to be defending a client, if you're going to be a lawyer, you have to be fuckin' competent, no case is going to contain a content warning for you, no one is going to censor themselves to your comfort, and if you don't do your job right, at the end of the day, it's your own fault for taking offense and letting shit bother you to such a egregious extent to the point of where it lapses you into an anxious fray.

I'm sorry, but if you're looking to become a law student, fuckin' RESEARCH what you're getting yourself into, and if you're easily offended, don't go into law!!. It's like someone saying saying they abhor gore deciding they want to attend medical school!

It's worse. You probably are not going to believe this... but I got these quotes from this article: http://www.cotwa.info/2015/09/the-real-college-rape-culture-young.html . Read it! Really, read it, you will be shocked... and the source definitely looks reputable.... these are just some quotes, but really, read everything... (emphasis in the quote mine)

"At Berkeley, students protested the notion that their classmates accused of rape should be treated fairly.

*At Ohio University, angry protesters called due process for college men accused of rape "bullshit."

*At Penn, angry law students objected to the idea that 16 of their law professors would call for fair procedures in sexual assault cases.

*At a panel discussion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, students expressed horror over the idea of "innocent until proven guilty" and due process when it comes to men accused of sexual assault.

Some "law students" have very interesting opinions on this matter!

Due process is a foundation of law.....

It's what allows you to have a chance in court. Without due process, you might as well start forming lynch mobs and doling out street justice to people accused of witchcraft and sorcery. I don't understand how anyone who studies law can be that backward when it comes to understanding this.

I'm assuming a some law school students were taught by their parents that the world would be their oyster and that they could be pardoned for doing whatever they want as long as they had money. According to my dad who went to an Ivy college, there's always been a lot of self entitled brats in the more expensive schools, i.e. law and medical, obviously not all of them are like that, but there's a shocking amount who have very little understanding of how certain things work and how the world won't curb to fit their whims. Spoiled brats, basically. Personally, o think they're just willfully ignorant, and choose to not accept the truth as truth.

I don't suffer from PTSD, I do have some slight trauma from abuses, but it's nowhere near as bad as a veteran, nowhere near. I also have major anxiety. But I'm not about to go around prancing about saying how I deserve and am entitled to trigger warnings being listed on everything. I quite frankly have found it a lot easier as CHS and the doc in the video said, to confront my issues head on. Some self diagnosed brat trivializing my issues actually pisses me off more than anything. Like "I'm sorry, did you deal with over ten years of inherent bullshit and on and off pain, or are you just doing this for oppression points and attention? Yeah, that's what I thought."

I watched my old friend on tumblr go from relatively sane person to total femnazi trigger warning tagging lunatic. It was truly a painful experience. But I think what was the most painful is that she took a bunch of my issues that I told her about confidentially and applied them to herself in the self diagnosed sense, which made my blood boil, including the abuses, she didn't exactly replicate them but she used the same framework, extreme anxiety, PD, depression, my tendencies, to try and get pity from her friends.

Trigger warnings encourage coddling and rewards people with entitlement issues.

The actual need for such warnings is grossly overstated. If a war veteran who actually has PTSD doesn't need trigger warnings, an angsty teen with a self-diagnosed condition doesn't need trigger warnings.

It infuriates me when I see people talking about how open minded they are, yet they essentially want to make excuses that inconvenience others just because they "feel offended" by certain words and topics. Guess what. The world is full of things that can make you uncomfortable. There are very real controversial issues that you need to be aware of. It's called getting out of your comfort zone and being a sensible and responsible member of society.

Protip: To deal with an issue, you need to be able to talk about it and face it. You can't just avoid it and expect the world around you to cater to your little needs. The world isn't such a soft and accommodating place and you have to deal with that, for better or for worse. If you can't deal with looking at some letters on a page, you need professional help, not trigger warnings.

Exactly. It's also extremely inhibiting to professors. More students are imposing censorship to fit their brand of opinion or entitlement. When professors are scared of students lugging mattresses into their office--well, we got a significant problem with the higher education forum.